Burglar-alarm



(No Model.)

I. (moss;

BURGLAR ALARM. No. 341,460. Patented'May' 11, 1886.

212: Attorneys,-

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

BU RGLAR-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,460, dated May 11, 1886.

Applicutioniiled August 31,1885. Serial No. 175,782. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FRANK GRoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the county of Daviess and State of Indiana,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Burglar-Alarms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the ac companyiug drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in burglar-alarms; and the novelty consists of the peculiar construction, combination, arrangements, and adaptations of the several parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in [5 the claims.

The invention is especially designed as an improvement upon the burglaralarm patented to me on the 9th day of June, 1885, said Letters Patent being numbered 319,566. In

this patent but one bell and striking mechan ism therefor is provided, which is operated by a slide and intermediate gearing between such slide and the rod that operates to set in motion the bell-hammer; but in my present 2 invention I provide two bells and striking mechanisms therefor, which mechanisms are independent of or separate from each other, and can be wound separately to strike the bells independently of each other, or they can both be wound jointly to strike the bells simultaneously when a slide is operated. The bells are of different sizes and tones, so that one shall give a louder and more violent ringing sound than the other. The object of these 5 devices is that if a watchman is employed, it will only be necessary to wind the mechanism for operating the smaller bell to give him the alarm; but if the services of a watchman are dispensed with the mechanism for operating 40 the larger or both bells are set to alarm the household.

The invention further consists of an improved construction of slide, contemplates to dispense with the revolving indicating-cylin- 4 5 der of the patent before referred to, and provide a dial, an index, and intermediate gearing between the rotary operating-shafts and such index-shaft; and it further consists of means whereby the operating cord or wire is easily and automatically detached from the slide when too great strain is exerted on the cord to obviate the danger of injuring the slide or other parts of the device; and it finally consists of the improved details of construction hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a burglar'alarm embodying my invention. Fig. 2is avertical sectional view. Fig.

3 is a horizontal section on the line a: m, Fig.

2. Fig. 4 is a view of the slide and rack-bar 6o detached from the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a detail.

Like letters of reference in the several figures of the drawings denote corresponding parts.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates an inclosing-case, preferably made rectangular and cabinet shaped in form, provided with a hinged door, B, having a dial or clock-face, 0, set therein at its upper end, 7o (see Fig. 1,) said dial having a series of figures or imlicating-marks to any desired number, and corresponding with the number of places or outhouses which are connected with the apparatus.

I provide a train of drivinggearing to each of the bells, which are two in number, said trains of gearing being lettered D and D,and they are located at and supported on the rear wall of the inclosing-case, as shown in Fig. 2; but I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to this particular form and arrangement of parts. Each train of gearing consists of a drive-wheel, D which is mounted on a shaft, E, and the shaft and wheel are rotated by a coiled spring, E, one end of the spring being rigidly secured to the shaft and the other end to the frame or casing. The drive-wheel D of each train of gearing meshes with a pinion, G, secured on a sleeve, g, and the sleeve of each train of gearing is loosely mounted on a shaft, H, which is common to both of the sleeves. The sleeve of each train of gearing is provided with a pallet or escapement wheel, H, and g5 pallets I or I of the bell-strikinglevers J or J are adapted to engage and be actuated by said escapement-wheels, either separately or simultaneously as will more fully hereinafter appear. 1

The levers J J are adapted to strike or op erate on bells K K, either separately or si- ICO multaneously when the train or trains of gearing are set in motion, and the bell K is larger than the bell K and arranged over said bell K, both bells'being mounted on a pin or shaft, K, common to both, the bell K projecting from beyond the edges of its fellow bell to enable the hammer J to operate or strike thereon.

Above the g aring, at the rear wall of the case A, is arranged a transverse horizontal strip, L,which providesa bearing for the rear ends of the horizontal shafts M M, the front ends of which are provided with bearings or supports in hangers L, securedfion the side walls of the case. (See Fig. 3.) The shafts M M are provided with a number of cog wheels, m, four being shown on each shaft, and at their front ends said shafts are provided with miter or bevel gear-wheels, M M respectively adapted to gear with similar wheels, N N, secured 011 a shaft, N-, near each end thereof, said shaft being arranged near the front wall of the casing or door B, transversely thereof and journaled at its ends in the hangers or blocks L. At the rear end of the shaft M is a cam-wheel, M, on which is adapted to engage and slide thereon an antifriction roller, a, that is jourualed on the upper horizontal bent arm, I), of a rod, 1), that is adapted to move or slide vertically in guides c, said anti-friction roller being supported by the cam M" when the device is set, and when the shaft M is rotated the cam M thereon raises the rod 1), which releases the hammer-arms and permits the train of gearing to operate either one of the said bellstriking mechanisms, or both of them, as may be determined. The lower end of the rod b is loosely connected to a rod or arm, bflwhen the device is set, which arm is secured to the bell-hammer J of the train of gearing D, and when the friction-roller of the rod 1) is raised by the cam the lower end thereof is disconnected from the arm b", and the train of gearing D operates to drive the bell-han1mer J to ring the bell K. The rod 2) is further provided with an arm, b, which is adapted to engage the arm d of the bell-hammer J, the arm I) being loosely connected to the arm (I of the lever J, and being disconnected from engagement therewith when the rod 1) rises and permits the operation of the lever J by the gearing D.

It will be observed that the trains of gearing are adapted to be wound and operated inde pendently of each other, or that both may be wound to strike both the bells, as may be preferred. The gearing D may alone be wound to strike the bell K, the gearing D remaining inactive, or said gearing D may be wound and the train D allowed to remain unwound, or both of said trains of gearing may be operated to strike both the bells simultaneously, as will be readily understood.

The shaft N has a bevel gear-wheel, N secured or keyed thereon at about its middle, with which wheel is adapted to mesh a smaller pinion or bevel gear-wheel, N, mounted on a short shaft, N suitably supported in a block or bearing, n, secured upon the rear surface of the front or door of the case A. The shaft N extends through an opening in said door and has an indicating hand or pointer, 0, secured upon its outer end, said pointer adapted to move around the dial and indicate thereon the number or name of the place or point where an entrance is attempted, the place, outhouse, or dwelling being numbered or marked to correspond to the same numeral or figure indicated by the hand or index 0.

The side walls ot the alarm-case A are provided at their upper ends with plates 0, having rectangular openings through which pass a series of slides, P. The slides are arranged in a horizontal position, and are eight in numher, four being arranged to pass through each of the side walls and plates 0' of the case A; but I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the number employed. \Vires for operating the slides are connected at one end to the projecting ends of the slides and at their opposite ends said wires are connected to the door, window, or other place on the building, 850., and they can be run under ground, or on poles, or in any other suitable manner. Each slide is provided with a longitudinal slot, 12, and a movable rack-bar, Q, said rack-bar being arranged beneath the slide and supported thereon or connected thereto by means of headed pins or studs 12, passing through said slots p and bearing upon the upper surfaces of the slides, as is obvious. The rack-bars are free to slide or move on the slides 1 and each of said rack-bars engages one of the pinions m on the shafts M M, and serves to rotate one of said shafts when the slides are set in motion, the headed pins striking against the end of the slotted portionof the slides and carrying the rack-bar with it. Each of the slides is provided with stops S, set at different distances from the ends thereof and out of a line with each other, so that the distances traveled by said slides are unequal or varied to rotate the shafts M M ditferent degrees to move the indicating-hand to the numeral or mark designating the place where the burglary is attempted and to which the operating-slide is connected by the wire, as will be understood.

A slide and cog-wheel are provided for each figure or mark on the dial, the slides being connected to separate places or points, and when one slide is moved it operates one of the shafts M or M independently of the other slides.

When one of the slides P operates the'shaft' M, (which, it will be observed, is not provided with a cam-wheel, and is only connected to the striking mechanisms through the shafts N M and the intermediate gear-Wheels,) the rotation thereof is transmitted through the gearwheels M and N to revolve the shaft N and the shaft N to move the indicator-hand O to the proper figure or character on the dial, and

the motion of said shafts M N is communicated to the shaft M by the gear-wheels N M, and the rotation of the shaft M and the cam raises the rod 1), which releases the arms of the bell-hammers of the bell-striking mechanisms, as desired. Each slide is provided with two plates,T, arranged at their front projecting ends on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the adjacent faces of said plates having lugs 25 t,between which is fitted and clamped one end of one of the wires for operating each of said slides, said wires being retained in position between the lugs t t by means of a bent spring, U, secured at one end to the slide and free to bear or engage the plates T at its opposite end.

When a burglary is attempted, the operating cord or wire which leads from that point to its slide in the case is drawn upon and pulls its slide outwardly until the stop S thereof comes in contact with the case, and thus serves to set the shaft M or Min motion, and consequently the bell-striking mechanism or mechanisms, and if the pull or strain upon the cord or wire is continued it will automatically disengage itself from the retainingspring U and lug T, thus obviating the danger of breaking the slide, its stop S, or other part-s of the case or mechanism, as will be very readily understood. The shafts M or M will in turn rotate one of the bevel-wheels N N upon the shaft N", and set in motion the shaft N through the medium of the wheels N N*, upon which the index or pointer O is mounted, causing the same to move to the numeral or mark to which it corresponds to the place or point where theburglary is attempted, the movement of the slide, and, consequently,.that of the pointer, being limited by the stops 8 upon tbeslide. When the shaft M is rotated by one of its operating-slides, or when the shaft M is rotated by motion from the shaft M, transmitted through the shaft N and the intermediate gear-wheels, the roller a is raised by the cam M and the rod 1) releases the arms b or d, or both, thus permitting either or both of the trains of drivinggearing to operate either or both of the levers J J to give the alarm upon the bells K or K.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an improvement in burglar-alarms, the combination of an inclosing-case, the driving-shafts, one of which carries a cam, a series of slides adapted to rotate said shafts, a rod supported on the cam, and bell-striking mechanisms connected with the rod and adapted to be set for operation either separately or jointly, substantially as described.

2. In a burglar-alarm, the combination of an inclosing-case provided with a dial, the operating-shafts, the slotted slides having rack-bars connected thereto and gearing with the driving-shafts, a shaft provided with an indicating-hand and geared to the drivingshaft's, a rod supported on one of the driving shafts, and separate bell-striking mechanisms connected with the rod and adapted to be set for operation either independently of each other or jointly, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with an inclosing-case having a dial, driving-shafts journaled in said case and having a seriesof pinions, aseries of slides having a stop, and a rack-bar adapted to mesh with and rotate the pinion of the driving-shafts, said rack-bars being secured on said slides by headed pins projecting through aslot therein, a shaft, N geared to said driving-shafts, an index-shaft geared to said shaft N two independent trains of gearing, D D, bells K K, hammers J J, one of which has an arm, d, and a sliding rod, I), having a friction-roller, a, at its upper end operated by the cam M, and having an arm, I), from which the arm dis released when said rod is operated, substantially as described.

4. Inaburglar-alarm of the class described, the combination,with the slide, of a plate, T, secured to the slide, and a spring also secured to the slide and bearing on the plate to clamp the operating cord or wire between said spring and plate, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK GROSS.

Vitnesses:

J OSEPH. Wrrson, J OHN A. GEETING. 

